EP3429654A1

EP3429654A1 - Medical suction pump

Info

Publication number: EP3429654A1
Application number: EP17710158.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cornel Bächler; Armin Felber; Marcel Muther
Original assignee: Medela Holding AG
Current assignee: Medela Holding AG
Priority date: 2016-03-17
Filing date: 2017-03-02
Publication date: 2019-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-02
Also published as: CA3015141A1; TW201737951A; AU2017234968B2; US11179511B2; AU2017234968A1; EP3429654B1; KR102353482B1; TWI716563B; CN108778356B; WO2017157691A1; CN108778356A; US20190365966A1; KR20180126011A

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical suction pump that comprises a pump housing (1, 8), a pump assembly (6) arranged in said pump housing (1, 8) for generating a negative pressure, and a device for damping sound. The device for damping sound comprises at least two elastic bearings (51, 52) for elastically retaining the pump assembly (6) in relation to the pump housing (1, 8), wherein said bearings (51, 52) are arranged at a distance to one another. The claimed suction pump allows optimum sound damping thanks to the flexible mounting.

Description

TITLE

MEDICAL SUCTION PUMP

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a medical suction pump, in particular a breast pump for pumping out human breast milk or a drainage pump for aspirating body fluids, for example for the thorax drainage or for wound drainage.

PRIOR ART Medical suction pumps, also called vacuum pumps, are known for a very wide variety of applications. For example, they are used as breast pumps for pumping human breast milk or drainage pumps for aspirating body fluids. Such suction pumps have pump units as piston pumps or diaphragm pumps. The use of a pumping membrane makes it possible to make the suction pump relatively small and light and thus portable in use. A very small and nevertheless the high demands on a breast pump fulfilling pumping unit is disclosed for example in US 2007/0292276.

Many of these pumps have the disadvantage that they are relatively loud. They are barely discreet to use in public and / or disturb the user through the rhythmically recurring sounds.

WO 2015/109934 AI discloses a breast pump with a sound attenuation. The pump unit is held in a closed inner housing, wherein the cavity between the housing inner wall and pump unit is filled with shock absorbers made of foam. The inner housing has two halves, which are connected to each other via a silicone ring. This inner housing is fixed with screws in a breastpump housing, whereby three shock absorbers, which on the outside of the Inner housing are arranged to reduce the transmission of the vibrations of the pump unit to the outer pump housing. This complete enclosure of the pump unit with foam has the disadvantage that heat generated in the unit can be dissipated only very poorly. In addition, this foam pad needs a lot of space and only leads to a moderate Kö noise damping.

KR 101462340 Bl describes a breast pump with a sound attenuation. A metallic pump housing is designed with a sound-absorbing mat and the pump unit is inserted accurately. Between the cover part and bottom part of the housing, a sound-absorbing edge is also provided.

CN 202342540 U shows a vertical arrangement of the pump unit with a arranged at the vacuum connection of the pump unit damping element.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a medical suction pump, which can be operated as quietly as possible and which nevertheless allows the greatest possible flexibility in the design of the pump.

This object is achieved by a medical suction pump having the features of claim 1.

The erfmdungsgemäße medical suction pump has a pump housing, a pump housing arranged in the pump unit for generating a negative pressure and a device for sound attenuation. The device for soundproofing has at least two elastic bearings for resilient mounting of the pump unit relative to the pump housing, which are spaced from each other. The elastic suspension and mounting prevents transmission of vibrations and structure-borne noise from the pump unit to the pump housing. The pump unit is kept defined thanks to the invention and still suspended so flexible that the noise is reduced and / or attenuated. The two-, three- or multi-point bearing at spaced apart and thus discrete locations with respect to the pump unit without further intermediate sound damping elements has the advantage that the holder of the pump unit can be chosen relatively freely within the pump housing. The use of exactly three bearings forms a statically determined system.

In a simple embodiment, the bearings are arranged directly on the pump unit and the counter bearings are located on the pump housing itself, i. The pump unit is held directly and without further intermediate parts in the pump housing.

The sound attenuation is improved when the pump unit is additionally arranged in a silencer housing and is mounted elastically relative to this. The silencer housing forms a closed shell and thus reduces the propagation of airborne sound. Preferably, it has a buffer volume for exiting the pump unit exhaust air. Such a buffer volume reduces the flow pressure and pressure surges and thus reduces the noise.

This pumping units known type can be used unchanged, preferably a pump unit carrier is present, which carries the elastic bearings and which holds the pump unit fixed in position. Depending on the embodiment, the pump unit carrier forms a unit or it is formed from two or more spaced-apart subunits or carrier parts. Preferably, the pump unit is held with bias in this carrier so that the connection between the two main parts of the pump unit, namely motor and vacuum unit, is as solid as possible and does not lead to vibrations. In preferred embodiments, the pump unit carrier is designed for this purpose as a coherent unit. This bias significantly reduces the noise of the unit.

Preferably, exactly two elastic bearings are present and the pump unit is exclusively on these two bearings with the pump housing or in between arranged silencer housing connected. Preferably, these are exactly two camps at opposite ends of the pump unit. In particular, they are along a longitudinal axis of the pump unit or gleichabständig offset on opposite sides to this. Preferably, they are located on the center of gravity of the pump unit. Preferably, exactly three elastic bearings are present, wherein the above-mentioned connection takes place exclusively via these three bearings. Three-point bearings are defined arrangements and impede play of individual parts. Preferably, the at least two or at least three bearings are formed from an elastomer. These materials are inexpensive, can be produced in any shape and, above all, resistant in use. However, there is hardly any material fatigue. Preferably, a first and a second of these bearings are aligned in opposite directions.

If a third bearing is present, then it is preferably aligned in a further direction extending perpendicularly from said directions.

In embodiments with at least or exactly three bearings, the first and the second bearing are preferably arranged in the region of a vacuum unit of the pump unit, and the third bearing is preferably arranged in the region of a motor of the pump unit. Balanced storage taking into account the center of gravity of the unit is an advantage.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least two bearings are held inserted into bearing receivers. This facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the pump. Preferably, the at least two bearings are attachable elastomeric bodies. This also facilitates the manufacture and assembly.

If a sound-damping housing is present, this is preferably in two parts educated. Preferably, it is airtight closed except for a first and a second air passage opening and up to a vacuum connection.

Preferably, an air exchange unit is provided, which supplies air through the first air passage opening of the silencer housing the pump unit and discharges air through the second air passage opening of the silencer housing from the pump unit. The air exchange unit may be integrally formed on the silencer housing or integrally on the pump housing. Preferably, however, it is a separate component, which is arranged between the pump housing and the sound-damping housing.

The sound-damping housing is preferably arranged fixed in position in the pump housing, wherein the air exchange unit is arranged between the pump housing and the sound-damping housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the air exchange unit is plate-shaped.

The air exchange unit preferably has channels with channel walls which are sound-absorbing, preferably soft. This also increases the sound attenuation.

Preferably, exhaust air led away from the pump assembly is passed through at least part of a flow path through a tubular airflow muffler. This reduces airborne noise due to edge friction of the air flowing through.

Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings which are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation are to be interpreted. In the drawings show:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an inventive suction pump in a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a pump unit and a

Pump unit carrier according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pump unit according to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pump unit carrier according to Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section through the pump unit carrier with held therein

Pump unit according to Figure 2;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a first soundproofing housing part according to FIG. 1 from below;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an air exchange unit according to Figure 1 from above;

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a pump unit and a

Pump unit carrier according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a pump unit and a

Pump unit carrier according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a first pump unit carrier part according to FIG

FIG. 9 and FIG

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second pump unit support member according to FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an inventive medical suction pump in an exploded view.

The suction pump is for example a breast pump for pumping human breast milk. The breast pump is connected directly or via a vacuum hose with one or two breast caps for resting on the mother's breast.

In another embodiment, the suction pump is a drainage pump, for example for chest drainage or wound drainage.

The suction pump is preferably made relatively small, so that it is portable and can be worn on the body in use or held in the hand.

The suction pump comprises a pump housing with a first pump housing part 1 and a second pump housing part 8. In this pump housing 1, 8 a Schalldämpfungsgehäuse is kept fixed, which preferably also essentially consists of a first sound-damping housing part 4 and a second silencer housing part 7 exists. In the silencer housing 4, 7, a pump unit 6 is mounted, wherein it may be attached directly to the silencer housing 4, 7. In this example, the pump unit

6 arranged in a pump unit carrier 5, which is mounted in the silencer housing 4, 7. The storage of the pump unit 6 and the pump unit carrier 5 is erfmdungsgemäss over at least two, preferably exactly three elastic bearings 51, 52. There are no other fasteners or connections to the silencer housing 4,

7 available. This suspension of the pump unit 6 alone or, as shown here, together with the pump unit carrier 5 prevents the transmission of vibrations to the silencer housing 4, 7 and thus to the pump housing 1, 8. Die Suspension will be described in more detail later in the text.

The pumping unit 6 is a known unit for generating negative pressure and forms the core of the vacuum pump. Typically, the pump unit 6 comprises a motor 60, usually an electric motor, and a vacuum unit 61. The vacuum unit 61 usually has a pumping chamber with a pumping membrane, which is connected via a drive rod to the motor and is movable by means of the motor. Such a pump unit is described for example in US 2007/0292276. Thus, the pump unit 6 is provided with the necessary for the operation of air supply and removal, the erfmdungsgemässe suction pump, a gap system, here called air exchange unit 2, on. The air exchange unit 2 is arranged in this example between the first pump housing part 1 and the first sound-damping housing part 4 and formed as a separate component. However, it can also be an integral part of a pump housing part 1, 8 or a sound-damping housing part 4, 7.

In the following, the individual parts mentioned above are described in more detail:

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the motor 60 is cylindrical in this example. This corresponds to the usual form. The vacuum unit 61 connected to it can have different shapes. In this example, it is essentially composed of two cuboids. The vacuum unit 61 has a ventilation opening 63, an exhaust opening 62 and a vacuum connection 64. The ventilation opening 63, the exhaust opening 62 and the vacuum connection 64 are formed in this example as a connecting piece. Other training is possible.

The pump unit carrier 5 is preferably made of a rigid material. Preferably, it is made of plastic. The pump unit carrier 5 is, as clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 4, shaped in accordance with the shape of the pump unit 6. It has a motor mount 50 in the form of a semi-cylindrical shell with a relatively wide gap 53. The motor mount 50 merges on an end face into an aggregate support 58. This forms with one of the Motor recording 50 facing surface a first stop 54, as can be clearly seen in Figure 5. The end of the motor mount 50 lying opposite this surface forms a second stop 59. The first stop 54 is provided with at least one first detent nose 540, the second stop 59 with at least one second detent nose 590.

The bottom 582 of the unit support 58 facing the motor mount 50 is provided with a gap or opening 583 in a corner region. The opening 583 is used for demolding from the injection molding tool, respectively for forming the first latching lug 540th

The unit support 58 has a directed away from the motor mount 50 balcony 581 for supporting the vacuum unit 61. The balcony 581 is provided on an upwardly directed, rear stop preferably with a third latching nose 580. The pump unit 6 is thanks to the first and second locking lugs 540, 590 and, if present, also thanks to the third locking lug 580 held under bias in the pumping unit carrier 5. As a result, any vibrations between the motor 60 and the vacuum unit 61 are avoided during operation of the pump and the noise is minimized. The aggregate support 58 has on both sides each an upwardly directed lateral stop 56 for receiving the vacuum unit 61, as can be seen in Figure 2. On the outside of these stops 56 each have an outwardly directed attachment pin 55 for receiving each of a first bearing 51 is present. The bearing 51 is elastic. Preferably, it is an elastomeric bearing. In this example, each bearing 51 has a rounded cuboid frame with a grooved cavity. The bearing 51 can be mounted and fixed by simply plugging onto the fixing pin 55.

At the free end of the motor mount 50, a further fastening pin 55 is formed, which carries a second elastic bearing 52, preferably also an elastomer bearing.

The three bearings 51, 52 are preferably identical in size, shape and elasticity. They are preferably arranged so that the movement of the Pump unit carrier 5 together with the pump unit 6 acting forces are evenly distributed, that is, that the arrangement is kept uniform with respect to their center of gravity. As shown in Figure 1, the pump unit carrier 5 is suspended together with the held therein under bias pump unit 6 in an interior 41 of the first silencer housing part 4 by means of the elastic support.

In a first half-shell 40, which essentially forms the first sound-damping housing part 4, there are first bearing receptacles 42 for the first and second bearings 51 and a second bearing receptacle 43 for the third bearing 52. The bearing receivers 42, 43 are each formed by two parallel and inwardly projecting side walls, in which the bearings 51, 52 can be inserted from above. The bearings 51, 52 are thereby pressed together and held in position. The first bearing receptacles 42 each have a lower stop 420 between the two side walls, so that the pump unit carrier 5 can be arranged horizontally in the first half-shell 40 and parallel to the bottom thereof. Other types of elastic mounting, suspension and the design of the bearing in shape and arrangement are possible in the context of this invention. FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment. Here are exactly two elastic bearings 51 present, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pump unit 6 on two opposite sides. They can be designed and held identically to the bearings described above. However, they can also be designed differently or at least larger than the above-mentioned bearings. In the example shown here, at least one of the two bearings 51, in this case the bearing 51 facing the vacuum unit 61, is made wider. It preferably has two web structures within a closed frame and / or is preferably held on two attachment pins 55. The remaining parts correspond to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7 and are not shown here any more.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a third exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above examples and will not be explained in detail. The pump housing with the first pump housing part 1 and the second pump housing part 8 is not shown here, but still available.

In this third embodiment, the pump unit carrier is formed in two parts. It has a first pump unit carrier part 501 and a second pump unit carrier part 502. They are arranged at two opposite ends of the pump unit 6.

The first pump unit support part 501 has a main body 5010 which is suitable for receiving the motor 60. He is therefore circular cylindrical in this example. One side is open for holding the motor 60. The opposite side may be closed. In this example, it is partially closed in that a web 5011 extends across the diagonal. At the web 5011, the projecting attachment pin 55, preferably centrally, is arranged. The fastening pin 55 serves to hold the second bearing 52.

The second pump unit support part 502 is formed as a rectangular angle element. It has a base 5020 as the first leg and a stop 5021 as the second leg. The vacuum unit 61 rests on the base 5020. The base 5020 is provided with a first passage opening 5022 for receiving the neck of the exhaust air opening 62 and with a second passage opening 5023 for receiving the neck of the ventilation opening 63. The stopper 5021 has a third passage opening

5024 for receiving the neck of the vacuum port 64 and a recess

5025 for receiving a protruding nose 65 of the vacuum unit 61 in the region of the ventilation opening 63.

The vacuum unit 61 facing away from the side of the stopper 5021 is also provided with a fastening pin 55, which serves to support the first bearing 51. In this example, exactly two bearings 51, 52 are present. The first bearing receptacle 42 and the second bearing receptacle 43 are arranged correspondingly in the first sound-damping housing part 4. They are not in this example on a parallels to the longitudinal axis of the first sound-damping housing part 4, but are so arranged offset to each other that they allow a uniform weight distribution of the pumping unit 6 on the two bearings 51, 52.

In the following, the invention will be explained again with reference to the first embodiment according to Figures 1 to 7, wherein the description also applies to the second and third example and to further embodiments in the context of the invention.

The first silencer housing part 4 is closed with the second silencer housing part 7. The closure preferably takes place in such a way that no vibrations can occur between the housing parts 4, 7 or that they can at least produce no sound. The former can be achieved for example by welding, the latter by correspondingly soft and sound-absorbing connection.

The sound-damping housing 4, 7 is preferably hermetically sealed, wherein a passage opening for the suction or vacuum connection must be present. This is provided in Figure 1 by the reference numeral 70. He connects the vacuum port 64 of the pump unit 6 via the also visible in Figure 1 vacuum port 80 of the pump housing 8 with a suction or vacuum hose or directly with a breast shield or a fluid collection container.

Most vacuum pumping units also have an air supply, i. ventilation, and air removal, i. an exhaust, necessary. This air must therefore be introduced into the closed sound-damping housing 4, 7 or must be able to flow out of this.

As shown in Figure 6, therefore, the first silencer housing part 4 has a first passage 44 for the supply air for the ventilation and a second passage opening 45 for the outflowing exhaust air. The second passage opening 45 is formed as an extended buffer space 450, as can be seen in Figure 1.

Since the pump housing 1, 8 is usually not formed airtight, special air inlet and outlet openings in the pump housing 1, 8 are unnecessary. However, they can still be provided if necessary or desired. The inflowing and outflowing air can move in a simple embodiment without further guidance between the interior 11 of the pump housing 1, 8 and silencer housing 4, 7.

In the present embodiment, however, the air exchange unit 2, also called a gap system, is present. The air exchange unit 2 is preferably plate-shaped. It is preferably rigid, in particular made of plastic. It is located on the underside of the first silencer housing part 4 and is airtight connected thereto. In particular, it is glued or welded with this.

As shown in Figure 7, the air exchange unit 2 has a narrow, preferably rigid base plate 20, which is provided with an upwardly open ventilation duct 21 and an also open at the top exhaust duct 22. The channels 21, 22 are closed by the connection with the first air-damping housing part 4 shown in FIG. 6, wherein the ventilation channel 21 opens into the first passage opening 44 and the second passage opening 45 leads into the exhaust air passage 22. The ventilation channel 21 begins at an inlet opening 24, which is created by an extending to the edge of the base plate 20 recess. The outlet opening 25 of the exhaust duct 24 is equal, created at another location. The channels 21, 22 are flat and thus have a relatively large volume. In addition, the flow pressure of the exhaust air is reduced by the buffer space 450. This preferably opens into the buffer bottom 220.

From the buffer bottom 220, the exhaust air enters a recessed channel, in which an air-flow muffler 3, also called absorption damper, is arranged. This is preferably a silicone tube or tube, which is flowed through by the exhaust air. The airflow muffler 3 can be easily inserted in the air exchange unit 2 or firmly connected to this, for example glued or welded.

Subsequently, the exhaust air enters the outflow space 221, which has a relatively large Has base, and from there through the outlet opening to the outside.

In order that the noise is minimized, at least the side walls 23 of the two channels 21, 22 are provided with a soft material. For example, a silicone layer is sprayed onto these side walls 23.

This air flow is usually not only necessary for the operation of the pump, but also contributes to the cooling of the pump unit or it serves as the only element of cooling.

The now with the air exchange unit 2 completed silencer housing 4, 7 is arranged in the pump housing 1, 8. For example, it can be inserted into a first pump housing part 10 and fixed in the usual way, e.g. by being screwed and / or clamped. In addition to the sound-damping housing 4, 7, other elements are usually arranged in the pump housing 1, 8, which are not shown here. These elements are, for example, rechargeable batteries and / or current transformers and electronic components.

Preferably, the pump housing 1, 8 with lateral and lower support ribs 12, 13 and optionally also provided with upper spacer ribs, so that the silencer housing 4, 7 is kept distanced from the side walls of the pump housing.

The pump housing 1, 8 may have any desired shape. Also, the silencer housing 4, 7 may be arbitrarily shaped. Pump housing 1, 8 and silencer housings 4, 7 are both preferably made of a rigid material, in particular made of plastic.

The inventive suction pump allows thanks to the flexible storage optimal sound attenuation. REFERENCE LIST first pump housing part 50 motor housing first housing half shell 501 first pump unit interior support part

lateral support rib 5010 basic body

lower support rib 5011 bar

502 second pump unit air exchange unit support part

Base plate 5020 base

Ventilation duct 5021 stop

Exhaust air channel 5022 first passage opening buffer bottom 5023 second passage opening outflow space 5024 third passage opening channel wall 5025 recess

Inlet opening 51 first bearing

Outlet opening 52 second bearing

53 gap

Airflow muffler 54 first stop

540 first catch

first soundproofing 55 fixing pin

Housing part 56 lateral stop first silencer 58 aggregate support

Half shell 580 locking nose

Interior 581 balcony

first bearing seat 582 floor

Stop 583 opening

second bearing seat 59 second stop first air passage opening 590 second locking nose second air passage opening

Buffer space 6 pump unit

60 engine

Pump unit carrier 61 Vacuum unit Exhaust air opening housing part

Ventilation opening 70 Vacuum connection

vacuum connection

Nose 8 second pump housing part

80 vacuum connection second silencer

Claims

Medical suction pump with a pump housing (1, 8), with a in the pump housing (1, 8) arranged pump unit (6) for generating a negative pressure and with a device for soundproofing, characterized in that the means for soundproofing at least two elastic bearings (51 , 52) for resilient mounting of the pump unit (6) relative to the pump housing (1, 8), wherein the bearings (51, 52) are arranged spaced from each other.

Suction pump according to claim 1, wherein exactly two or exactly three elastic bearings (51, 52) are present.

Suction pump according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least two bearings (51, 52) are formed of an elastomer.

Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pump unit (6) exclusively by means of at least two elastic bearings (51, 52) medium or directly in the pump housing (1, 8) is suspended.

A suction pump according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a first and a second bearing (51) of said bearings are oriented in opposite directions and a third bearing (52) of said bearings is oriented in a further direction perpendicular to said directions, wherein the first and second bearing (51) are preferably arranged in the region of a vacuum unit (61) of the pumping unit (6) and the third bearing (52) is preferably arranged in the region of a motor (60) of the pumping unit (6).

Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least two bearings (51, 52) in bearing receivers (42, 43) are held pushed.

Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least two bearings (51, 52) are attachable elastomeric body.

8. Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pump unit (6) is held in a pump unit carrier (5) and wherein the at least two bearings (51, 52) on this pump unit carrier (5) are arranged.

9. suction pump according to claim 8, wherein the pump unit (6) is held under prestress in the pump unit carrier (5).

10. Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pump unit (6) in a silencer housing (4, 7) is arranged and relative to this silencer housing (4, 7) by means of at least two bearings (51, 52) elastically is.

11. Suction pump according to claim 10, wherein the sound-damping housing (4, 7) except for a first and a second air passage opening (44, 45) and up to a vacuum connection (70) is formed airtight closed.

12. A suction pump according to claim 11, wherein an air exchange unit (2) is provided, which air through the first Luftdurchlassöffhung (44) of the silencer housing (4, 7) the pump unit (6) supplies and air through the second air passage opening (45) of the silencer housing ( 4, 7) from the pump unit (6) dissipates.

13. Suction pump according to claim 12, wherein the sound-damping housing (4, 7) fixed in position in the pump housing (1, 8) is arranged and wherein the air exchange unit (2) between the pump housing (1, 8) and the sound-damping housing (4, 7) is arranged.

14. Suction pump according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the air exchange unit (2) is plate-shaped and channels (21, 22) with channel walls (23) which are sound-absorbing, preferably soft, are formed.

15. Suction pump according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the pump unit (6) guided away exhaust air is passed over at least part of a flow path through a tubular air flow muffler (3).